Integral spring and cam unit

ABSTRACT

An improved spring construction for a self-closing hinge is comprised of a unitary elastic member positioned intermediate a cam surface associated with one leaf of the hinge and a pocket for holding the spring mechanism in the opposite leaf.

[451 Sept. 24, 1974 3,381,332 5/1968 .lerila et al.

[ INTEGRAL SPRING AND CAM UNIT 3,397,422 8/1968 Youngdale..,...,..................,..

[75] Inventor: William H. Coe, Rockford, Ill,

[73] Assignee: Keystone Consolidated Industries,

Primary ExaminerPaul R. Gilliam Inc., Peoria, 111.

Apr. 17, 1973 Assistant ExaminerDoris L. Troutman Attorney, Agent, or FirmMolinare, Allegretti, Newitt & Witcoff [22] Filed:

[21] Appl. No.: 352,069

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UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,706,307 Anderson.............................. 16/190 15 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 1 INTEGRAL SPRING AND CAM UNIT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In a principal aspect, the present invention relates to an improved self-closing hinge construction and, more particularly, to a new and unique biasing means or spring assembly utilized as part of the self-closing hinge. v

The use of self-closing hinges, particularly on cabinets, has increased in recent years. Self-closing hinges are used in place of a standard supporting hinge to provide a mechanism which will not only support the door, but also will maintain a cabinet door in a normally closed position. There are numerous U. S. Pats. which disclose self-closing hinges including the following: Anderson No. 3,613,151; Anderson No. 3,391,420; Mac- Donald No. 3,205,531; MacDonald No. 3,212,124; MacDonald 3,228,058; MacDonald No. 3,255,484. This is by no means a comprehensive listing of such patents.

An examination of these patents will show that such hinges generally comprise first and second separate leaves which mesh and are connected by a hinge pin. A spring biased cam member is held by one of the leaves and biased against a cam surface of the second leaf. This spring biased cam member engages the cam surface of a leaf and holds the leaf in a closed position or in a desired open position.

Generally, this biasing mechanism includes a plastic cam member which is biased by one or more springs into engagement with the cam surface associated with one leaf of the hinge. For example, a pair of coil springs may be utilized to drive the cam member against the cam surface. Alternatively, a single wire rod may be utilized to bias the cam member against the cam surface. Still another construction incorporates a pair of hair pin shaped spring wires. One end of each wire engages the cam block and the opposite end engages a leaf to thereby bias the cam member against the cam surface.

One criteria for a biasing mechanism is that it must be compact so that it can be included within the hinge mechanism without unsightly exposure. Additionally, the biasing mechanism must be easily incorporated with existing hinge designs so that existing hinges need not be altered and so that existing cabinet structures need not be altered to accomodate a new hinge design.

Another objective for a biasing mechanism is that it should be useful with all types and styles of self-closing hinges. Still a further objective of a biasing mechanism is that it should exhibit sufficient resiliency to provide for repeated openings and closings of a door or the like which is hung by means of the self-closing hinge.

It is with these objectives in mind that the present invention was conceived and reduced to practice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises the improvement of a unitary, integral elastic cam member which may be utilized in combination with the pair of leaves and a hinge pin to provide a self-closing hinge.

It is thus an object of the present invention to. provide an improved biasing means forself-closing hinges.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved biasing means which may be substituted in place of presently available or previously disclosed biasing means comprised of separate metal springs in combination with cam members.

One further object of the present invention is to provide a unitary, integral biasing member which is compact and does not take up any more space than prior art biasing means for self-closing hinge constructions.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be set forth in greater detail in the description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following FIGURES:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical self-closing hinge utilizing the improved biasing means of the present invention; I

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a hinge shown in FIG. 1 wherein the leaves of the hinge are moved in respect to one another toward an open position.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the hinge of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the hinge of FIG. 1 taken substantially along the line 4-4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the improved hinge biasing means of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the improved biasing means shown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a partially cut-away perspective view of the improved biasing means of the present invention as incorporated with another style of self closing hinge.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 1 through 4 illustrate a typical style of selfclosing hinge construction incorporating the improvement of the present invention. FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the improved biasing construction of the present invention, and FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative hinge constr'uction incorporating the biasing mechanism of the present invention.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 through 4, typically a self closing hinge includes a first leaf 10, second leaf l2 and a connecting hinge pin 14. The particular shape and material comprising the leaves 10 andl2 is not a limiting feature of the invention, nor is the particular shape and length of the pin 14. Suffice it to say that generally such self-closing hinges include a first curl l6 associated with the first leaf 10 and a pair of spaced curls l8 and 20 associated with the second leaf 12. The first curl I6 is adapted to fit between the second curls I8 and 20 so that the hinge pin 14 may be inserted through the curls 16, 18 and 20 to define an axis of rotation for the hinge construction. Again, the number and placement of the curls is not a limiting feature of the invention.

The curl 16 defines a curved cam surface as illustrated in more detail in FIG. 4. In the embodiment illustrated in the FIGURES, the cam surface is defined by the shape of the curl l6 and the absence of a portion of material or a cutout 22 in curl 16. This cutout 22 is positioned or defined, for example, so that a biased plunger or cam member mechanism may engage the curl l6 and bias the leaves relative to each other beyond a closed position. Thus, when the hinge is in the position illustrated in FIG. 1, it will be maintained; in. a closed position by virtue of the interaction of a cam member mechanism with curl 16 in such a manner that the leaf 12 will be biased in a counterclockwise sense relative to leaf 10. This particular construction and the arrangement of the curl 16 relative to a cam member mechanism is known in the art.

The biasing mechanism associated with a cam member is normally maintained in a fixed'position in one leaf 12 by means of a pocket 23 defined by the leaf 12. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. l-4, the pocket 23 is defined by spaced flanges 24 and 26 which lie in a common plane spaced from one another as well as another flange 28 which is parallel to the first two flanges 24 and 26 and is spaced laterally therefrom by planar section 29. The flanges 24, 26 and 28, and section 29 thus define a pocket 23 or means for holding a cam mechanism in the manner illustrated in the FIGURES.

Referring to FIG. 7, a pocket 31 is defined in a cast hinge leaf 32. The manner and construction of such pockets 31 or means for holding biasing means is known to those skilled in the art.

The improvement of the present invention comprises an integral biasing cam member illustrated in FIGS. and 6. This structure is an integrally molded cam member made from an elastic material, for example, an elastic, plastic material such as the type sold under the trade name Celcon. The cam member 34 is comprised of a first planar section 36 and a second parallel planar section 38. The sections 36 and 38 are spaced from each other and interconnected by means of spaced connecting segments 40 and 42. A cam projection 44 projects outwardly from the top surface of the first planar section 36. Downwardly extending projections 46 and 48 which extend from the second planar section 38 are provided to cooperate with planar connecting section 29 as illustrated in FIG. 3 of leaf 12.

The integral cam member 34 fits within the pocket 23 defined by the flanges 24, 26 and 28 as well as the planar section 50. Member 34 is retained between the planar section 50 and the hinge pin 14 or curl 16 as illustrated in FIG. 4. Upon opening the hinge, for example, to the position shown in FIG. 2, the cam projection 44 is driven in a direction perpendicular to the pin 14 toward the planar section 38.

Flexure generally occurs substantially uniformly about axes transverse to the pin 14 and generally parallel to the planar section 50. Stated another way, flexure occurs about axes through cam member 34 which are perpendicular to pin 14 and which are also perpendicular to the direction of motion or deformation imparted bythe cam surface to the cam member 34. In the embodiment disclosed, the majority of flexure occurs in connecting segments 40 and 42. The cam member 34 thus assumes a bow-tie appearance when deformed by the curl 16. Alternative structures of the cam member 34 would have their own specific manner of flexing.

In any event, an important feature of the invention is the compactness of the single, unitary cam member 34. Thus, the cam member 34 is retained almost exclusively in the region between the pin 14 and the planar section 50. It does not project unnecessarily laterally beyond the flanges 24, 26 and 28. In other words, the cam member occupies no more space than the biasing mechanisms disclosed in the patents identified in the Background, and in most instances the present invention occupies less space.

When the curl 16 engages the cam projection 44, the projection 44 is caused to move toward the planar section 38 thereby elastically deforming the cam member 34. The cam member 34 thus assumes the bow-tie" shape as illustrated in FIG. 2; When the hinge approaches the closed position, the deformed cam member 34 will continue to act as a biasing means and assume the original molded shape shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Thus, the leaves 10 and 12 of the hinge are driven beyond the closed position.

The connecting segments 40 and 42 cooperate with flanges 24 and 26 and flange 28 to prevent the cam member 34 from slipping out of the pocket 23. That is, the downwardly extending projections 46 and 48 cooperate with the sides of the planar section 50 to prevent slippage or movement of the cam block 34 in a direction parallel to the pin 14. Thus, the projections 46 and 48 are spaced a distance just greater than the lateral dimension of the planar section 50. The cam block 34 is also wider than the distance between the flanges 24 and 26 so that it. may engage the flanges 24, 26, 28 and thereby be effectively retained within the pocket 23.

In FIG. 7, the cam block 34 of the present invention is shown incorporated in another style of self-closing hinge. In the particular configuration of FIG. 7, the hinge is shown in the closed position. The cam block 34 is retained in the pocket 31 defined or molded in the leaf 32. A curl 54 associated with the second leaf 33 cooperates with the cam projection 44 of the cam member 34 in the manner previously described for the hinge illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4.

It is apparent that the improved biasing mechanism of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 may be substituted in any style or type of self-closing hinge construction and is not limited to constructions of the type shown in FIGS. 1-4 and 7. Moreover, alternative constructions of such a unitary cam member and biasing mechanism are possible. Therefore, in view of the foregoing, the subject matter of the invention is to be limited by the following claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:

1. In a self-closing hinge construction of the type including first and second leaves connected by a hinge pin, one of said leaves having a non-resilient cam surface and the other of said leaves including a cam engaging portionfor holding cams means against said cam surface, the improvement comprising a single, integral elastic cam member interposed between said cam surface and the cam engaging portion, said cam member including a portion for cooperation with said cam surface and also including an integral deformable elastic portion, said cam member being deformable exclusively in the region intermediate said cam surface and the engaging portion of said other leaf, said deformation being substantially uniform along any given axis through said cam member in a plane substantially transverse the direction of deformation imparted by said cam surface to said cam member.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said member is comprised of a molded plastic composition having elastic properties.

3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said member comprises first and second substantially parallel, spaced, planar sections connected at two separated positions by integrally molded connecting portions.

4. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said member comprises a molded, closed loop of flexible, elastic material, one side of said loop comprising the cam engaging portion for engaging said cam surface.

5. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said member comprises first and second substantially parallel, spaced runs, the outside surface of one run having at least a portion thereof projecting to engage said cam surface comprising said engaging portion, said runs being interconnected at separate spaced positions, said runs being spaced a distance at least equal to the maximum distance said cam surface can drive said engaging portion.

6. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said hinge construction includes means on said leaves for holding said cam in a non-sliding position intermediate said cam surface and said cam engaging portion, and wherein said member includes projecting portions for cooperation with said means for holding.

7. The improvement of claim 6 wherein said projecting portions are substantially transverse to the direction of movement imparted by the cam surface to the cam member upon operation of the hinge construction.

8. The improvement of claim 6 wherein said projecting portions are substantially parallel to the direction of movement imparted by the cam surface to the cam member upon operation of the hinge construction.

9. In a self-closing hinge construction of the type including first and second leaves connected by a hinge pin, one of said leaves having a non-resilient cam surface and the other of said leaves including a cam engaging portion for holding cam means against said cam surface, the improvement comprising a single, integral elastic cam member interposed between said cam surface and the cam engaging portion,said cam member including a portion for cooperation with said cam surface and also including an integral deformable elastic portion, said cam member being deformable exclusively in the region intermediate said cam surface and the engaging portion of said otherleaf, saiddeformation being substantially uniform along any given axis through said cam member in a plane substantially transverse the direction of deformation imparted by said cam surface to said cam member,-said member comprising at least first and second spaced planar sections connected at least at two separated positions by material integral with said member.

10. In a self-closing hinge construction of the type including first and second leaves connected by ahinge pin, one of said leaves havinga non-resilient cam surface and the other of said leaves'including a cam engaging portion for holding cam means against said cam surface, the improvement comprising a single, integral elastic cam member interposedbetween said cam surface and the cam engaging portion, said cam member including a portion for cooperation withsaid cam surface and also including an integral deformable elastic portion, said cam member being deformable exclusively in the region intermediate said cam surface and the engaging portion of said other leaf, said deformation being substantially uniform along any given axis through said cam member in a plane substantially transverse the direction of deformation imparted by said cam surface tosaid cam member, said member comprising at least first and second substantially parallel sections connected at least at two separated positions by material integral with said member.

11. In a self-closing hinge construction of the type including first and second leaves connected by a hinge pin, one of said leaves having a non-resilient cam surface and the other of said leaves including a cam engaging portion for holding cam means against said cam surface, the improvement-comprising a single, integral elastic cam member interposed between said cam surface and the cam engaging portion, said cam member including a portion for cooperation with said cam surface and also including an integral deformable elastic portion, said cam member being deformable exclusively in the region intermediate said cam surface and the engaging portion of said other leaf, said deformation being substantially uniform along any given axis through said cam member in a plane substantially transverse the direction of deformation imparted by said cam surface to said cam member, said member comprising at least first and second substantially parallel, planar sections connected at least at two separated positions by material integral with said member.

12. In a self-closing hinge construction of the type including first and second leaves connected by a hinge pin, one of said leaves having a non-resilient cam surface and the other of said leaves including a cam engaging portion for holding cam means against said cam surface, the improvement comprising a single, integral elastic cam member interposed between said cam surface and the cam engaging portion, said cam member including a portion for cooperation with said cam surface and also including an integral deformable elastic portion, said cam member being deformable exclusively in the region intermediate said cam surface and the engaging portion of said other leaf, said deformation being substantially uniform along any given axis through said cam member in a plane substantially transverse the direction of deformation imparted -.by said cam surface to said cam member, said member comprising a molded, closed loop of flexible, elastic material, one side of the loop comprising the portion for cooperation with the cam surface.

13. In a self-closing hinge construction of the typeincluding first and second leaves connected by a hinge pin, one of said leaves having a non-resilient cam surface and the other of said leaves including a cam engaging portion for holding cam means against said camsurface, the improvement comprising a single, rintegral elastic cam member interposed between said camsurface and the cam engaging portion, said cam member including a portion for cooperation with said cam surface and also including an integral deformable elastic portion, said cam member being deformable exclusively in the region intermediate said cam surface and the engaging portion of said other leaf, said deformation being substantially uniform along any given axis through said cam member in a plane substantially transverse the direction of deformation imparted by said cam surface to said cam member, said member comprising first and second substantially parallel, spaced runs, the outside surface of one run having at 'least a portion thereof projecting to engage said cam surface, said runs being interconnected at separate spaced positions, said runs being spaced a distance at least equal to the maximum distance said cam surface drives said runs relative to each other upon operation of the hinge construction.

14. The improvement of claim fi wherein said projecting portions comprise first and second spaced projections extending perpendicular to said -pin,.-said projections being cooperative with one of said leavesto inhibit movement of said member in a direction parallel to said pin.

15. The improvement of claim 6 wherein said projecting portions comprise extensions from said member in a direction substantially parallel to said pin, said ex- 

1. In a self-closing hinge construction of the type including first and second leaves connected by a hinge pin, one of said leaves having a non-resilient cam surface and the other of said leaves including a cam engaging portion for holding cams means against said cam surface, the improvement comprising a single, integral elastic cam member interposed between said cam surface and the cam engaging portion, said cam member including a portion for cooperation with said cam surface and also including an integral deformable elastic portion, said cam member being deformable exclusively in the region intermediate said cam surface and the engaging portion of said other leaf, said deformation being substantially uniform along any given axis through said cam member in a plane substantially transverse the direction of deformation imparted by said cam surface to said cam member.
 2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said member is comprised of a molded plastic composition having elastic properties.
 3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said member comprises first and second substantially parallel, spaced, planar sections connected at two separated positions by integrally molded connecting portions.
 4. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said member comprises a molded, closed loop of flexible, elastic material, one side of said loop comprising the cam engaging portion for engaging said cam surface.
 5. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said member comprises first and second substantially parallel, spaced runs, the outside surface of one run having at least a portion thereof projecting to engage said cam surface comprising said engaging portion, said runs being interconnected at separate spaced positions, said runs being spaced a distance at least equal to the maximum distance said cam surface can drive said engaging portion.
 6. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said hinge construction includes means on said leaves for holding said cam in a non-sliding position intermediate said cam surface and said cam engaging portion, and wherein said member includes projecting portions for cooperation with said means for holding.
 7. The improvement of claim 6 wherein said projecting portions are substantially transverse to the direction of movement imparted by the cam surface to the cam member upon operation of the hinge construction.
 8. The improvement of claim 6 wherein said projecting portions are substantially parallel to the direction of movement imparted by the cam surface to the cam member upon operation of the hinge construction.
 9. In a self-closing hinge construction of the type including first and second leaves connected by a hinge pin, one of said leaves having a non-resilient cam surface and the other of said leaves including a cam engaging portion for holding cam means against said cam surface, the improvement comprising a single, integral elastic cam member interposed between said cam surface and the cam engaging portion, said cam member including a portion for cooperation with said cam surface and also including an integral deformable elastic portion, said cam member being deformable exclusively in the region intermediate said cam surface and the engaging pOrtion of said other leaf, said deformation being substantially uniform along any given axis through said cam member in a plane substantially transverse the direction of deformation imparted by said cam surface to said cam member, said member comprising at least first and second spaced, planar sections connected at least at two separated positions by material integral with said member.
 10. In a self-closing hinge construction of the type including first and second leaves connected by a hinge pin, one of said leaves having a non-resilient cam surface and the other of said leaves including a cam engaging portion for holding cam means against said cam surface, the improvement comprising a single, integral elastic cam member interposed between said cam surface and the cam engaging portion, said cam member including a portion for cooperation with said cam surface and also including an integral deformable elastic portion, said cam member being deformable exclusively in the region intermediate said cam surface and the engaging portion of said other leaf, said deformation being substantially uniform along any given axis through said cam member in a plane substantially transverse the direction of deformation imparted by said cam surface to said cam member, said member comprising at least first and second substantially parallel sections connected at least at two separated positions by material integral with said member.
 11. In a self-closing hinge construction of the type including first and second leaves connected by a hinge pin, one of said leaves having a non-resilient cam surface and the other of said leaves including a cam engaging portion for holding cam means against said cam surface, the improvement comprising a single, integral elastic cam member interposed between said cam surface and the cam engaging portion, said cam member including a portion for cooperation with said cam surface and also including an integral deformable elastic portion, said cam member being deformable exclusively in the region intermediate said cam surface and the engaging portion of said other leaf, said deformation being substantially uniform along any given axis through said cam member in a plane substantially transverse the direction of deformation imparted by said cam surface to said cam member, said member comprising at least first and second substantially parallel, planar sections connected at least at two separated positions by material integral with said member.
 12. In a self-closing hinge construction of the type including first and second leaves connected by a hinge pin, one of said leaves having a non-resilient cam surface and the other of said leaves including a cam engaging portion for holding cam means against said cam surface, the improvement comprising a single, integral elastic cam member interposed between said cam surface and the cam engaging portion, said cam member including a portion for cooperation with said cam surface and also including an integral deformable elastic portion, said cam member being deformable exclusively in the region intermediate said cam surface and the engaging portion of said other leaf, said deformation being substantially uniform along any given axis through said cam member in a plane substantially transverse the direction of deformation imparted by said cam surface to said cam member, said member comprising a molded, closed loop of flexible, elastic material, one side of the loop comprising the portion for cooperation with the cam surface.
 13. In a self-closing hinge construction of the type including first and second leaves connected by a hinge pin, one of said leaves having a non-resilient cam surface and the other of said leaves including a cam engaging portion for holding cam means against said cam surface, the improvement comprising a single, integral elastic cam member interposed between said cam surface and the cam engaging portion, said cam member including a portion for cooperation with said cam surface and also including an integral Deformable elastic portion, said cam member being deformable exclusively in the region intermediate said cam surface and the engaging portion of said other leaf, said deformation being substantially uniform along any given axis through said cam member in a plane substantially transverse the direction of deformation imparted by said cam surface to said cam member, said member comprising first and second substantially parallel, spaced runs, the outside surface of one run having at least a portion thereof projecting to engage said cam surface, said runs being interconnected at separate spaced positions, said runs being spaced a distance at least equal to the maximum distance said cam surface drives said runs relative to each other upon operation of the hinge construction.
 14. The improvement of claim 6 wherein said projecting portions comprise first and second spaced projections extending perpendicular to said pin, said projections being cooperative with one of said leaves to inhibit movement of said member in a direction parallel to said pin. 0
 15. The improvement of claim 6 wherein said projecting portions comprise extensions from said member in a direction substantially parallel to said pin, said extensions being cooperative with one of said leaves to inhibit movement of said member in a direction parallel to said pin. 